Here it is the raw footage of Roy being surprised this morning http://youtu.be/3Lzh-QqQCIg Please skip through the intro to 2:48 as we didn’t get too much time to film ourselves and also get involved. The BBC’s footage is being aired tonight on BBC North West tonight which starts at 1830hrs (sorry this isnt fantastic but it was a mad morning of planning behind the scenes and whispering)

BBC North West Sports Unsung Hero 2011 winner announced live on BBC Radio Manchester

A dedicated servant of Aspull Olympic Wrestling Club in Wigan has won the BBC North West Sports Unsung Hero award for 2011.

Roy Wood, who is 68 years old, has been an inspiration to the young people he has coached, going the extra mile to change the lives of others through sport.

Roy was surprised with the news live on BBC Radio Manchester this morning (Thursday 24th November). Reporter Alice Gregr met Roy under the guise of talking to him about the history of his gym but instead revealed to him that he had been named the BBC Sports Unsung Hero 2011 for the North West.

Roy now progresses to the Unsung Hero final as the North West regional winner.

Richard Moore, who went along to Roy’s gym in his teens, nominated Roy for the award.

He said, “Roy is an unsung hero through and through. Come rain or shine he’s been at the gym, helping young kids, helping the local community for nothing other than the love of it. He provides guardianship for young people, they learn how to behave, discipline, how to treat people properly. Through the years, he’s helped so many people. This award is one way to tell Roy we think he’s one in a million.”

BBC Sports Unsung Hero is one of the categories at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, which will be held at MediaCityUK in Salford on 22 December. This year’s programme will be screened live on BBC One and BBC One HD from 8pm, and broadcast on BBC Radio 5 live.

A winner is chosen in each BBC English Region and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each winner then gets the chance to join the sporting stars of today at BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2011 where the overall BBC Sports Unsung Hero winner is announced.

Last year’s overall winner was Lance Haggith, of, Bedford. Lance, aged 51, who impressed the judges with his dedication to basketball coaching, making him the overall winner from the 15 regional winners across the UK.

Lance has been working with children and young people of all abilities, including disabled, vulnerable and disaffected youngsters, to provide support through basketball coaching for the last 30 years.

Now in its ninth year, the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award recognises and rewards outstanding contribution by individuals at the grassroots level of local sport, who give up their time on a voluntary basis so that sport can be played and enjoyed by people throughout the UK.